Just a day after Harvard Law School students marched with protesters to fight against racism on Nov. 18, everyone woke up to find the portraits of tenured black professors defaced with black strips of tape covering their faces diagonally. It's no wonder that Harvard Police has taken the vandalism seriously and is considering that the act was done as a hate crime.
While there is no indication that the vandalism is a direct response to the rally, Harvard Law School Dean Martha Minnow issued a statement condemning the act and expressing support for the university professors of color.
A Harvard Law student posted photos of the defaced portraits on his twitter account.
In response to yesterday's protests, cowards have covered the faces of Harvard Law's Black professors w/ black tape. pic.twitter.com/IuNd9ckucj
— the other one (@imfromraleigh) November 19, 2015
"Expressions of hatred are abhorrent, whether they be directed at race, sex, sexual preference, gender identity, religion, or any other targets of bigotry," Dean Minnow wrote. She also reminded the community that Harvard's focus is to improve the community and finding opportunities wherein the university can both change and support change. As a way to counter the defacement to the portraits, students replaced the black tapes with positive messages and support to the professors on the sides of the frame. One of the professors whose portrait was defaced, Prof. Ronald S. Sullivan took a photo of the notes decorating his photo in place of the black tape and expressed his love for his students.
I love my HLS students! They've replaced the act of defacement with "love notes" to all the black faculty. pic.twitter.com/6LLHEbY9bA — Ronald S. Sullivan (@ProfRonSullivan) November 19, 2015
Dean Minnow originally set a community meeting on Nov. 30 for an open discussion, but as a response to the vandalism, she sent out an email to the Harvard community saying she is saddened and angered by the act and called for a community meeting at noon on Nov. 19 to openly discuss what the community can do.
Update: another response from Dean Minow pic.twitter.com/md3pQDCSxa
— the other one (@imfromraleigh) November 19, 2015
A student attendee live tweeted some of the discussion during the meeting, including Dean Minnow admitting that racism is a really serious issue that must be addressed.
Dean Minow: Racism is a serious problem. It is my life's work. — Kendra Albert (@KendraSerra) November 19, 2015
Student - I'm frustrated. These racist acts take place, we have meetings, nothing happens. This happened last year.
— Kendra Albert (@KendraSerra) November 19, 2015
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